Man Faces Life in Prison for Child Molestation

(Photo: Santa Maria Police Department)

Source: Santa Barbara County District Attorney

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced [Wednesday] that Manuel Ruiz Rios, age 34, will face life in prison as a result of being found guilty, as charged, of one count of Penal Code section 288(b), forcible lewd act on a child, six counts of Penal Code section 269(a), aggravated sexual assault of a child, four counts of Penal Code section 288.7(b), oral copulation and sexual penetration of child under 10 years old, and two counts of Penal Code section 288.7(a), sexual intercourse with a child under 10 years old.  The defendant molested the two victims multiple times over a three year period, beginning when the children were as young as three years old.

District Attorney Dudley stated, “These two child victims were extraordinarily brave and articulate. As a result of their testimony, this defendant will never be able to hurt another child. Cases like this require exemplary investigation which was done in this case by Detective Jose De Leija of the Santa Maria Police Department. Finally, Deputy District Attorney Chrystal Joseph’s careful, zealous and compassionate prosecution made it possible for these two young girls to speak the truth.”

The defendant will be sentenced on June 27, 2018 in Department 3 of the Santa Barbara Superior Court.